Tony walked up to the tombstone and stood there for a minute and then reached into his pocket and placed a bullet on the tombstone. He reached out and touched it after he placed it on top of the tombstone.
He remembered the case almost like it was yesterday. The powerful drug dealer Ace Nimoy's new narcotics had killed over 12 people in a month back then in Baltimore when Tony was still a cop,
He had told everything to Katrina and she looked at him with this look.
No.
Tony had looked away, from her eyes.
He couldn't stand that look in their eyes. Pity. God, he hated when people looked at him with pity as if he was weak. He wasn't weak, he wasn't broken, but yet their eyes said he was. It felt like any sense of pride or self-worth got washed away when he got that look.
Tony knows why he gets the looks of pity. It has to do with Ace Nimoy and he knew about pain, and he didn't need anyone's pity.
What he hated the most was the people that undermined him because of it. Like his accomplishments in his business and finance classes weren't important. Like his opinion didn't matter because he was weak. God, he hated it.
He hated pity and nightmares.
Tony knew about them. He tried to stay awake every day using his work but somewhere along the way, he made the mistake of falling asleep and suddenly he was back there.
Back inside the burning room filled with his family's burning, dead bodies.
And he was the only one standing, the fire unable to burn him, even with how much he desperately wanting it to turn him to ashes instead of seeing this.
He was trailing his eyes between the bodies, recognizing them immediately. His parent. Bodies intertwined even as the flames consumed them both. His sister and her husband. A few feet apart, hands outstretched towards one another and never managed to reach each other. His mother, wife, uncles and aunties, his Beautiful son. A few feet away from him, their lifeless eyes staring up at him with tear tracks visible on his cheeks. Everyone he ever loved or cared about. Dead. Burning away slowly. And he remained untouched by the flames that was wiping away any evidence of his family.
He wanted to die.
The was tired. He wasn't ashamed to admit it.
Everything around him was pressuring him and the burden on his shoulders was almost too much.
He was fooling everyone around him by his cool demeanor. They don't know how tired he was. Physically and emotionally. Dealing again with Veronica again was an issue but to stop his reach for him , that was wasn't really alone, he knew that.
He was still afraid, though he'd never admit it. Afraid that one day Nimoy would materialise and decide to kill all his family, slowly, just because he could. That hadn't happened, so far. Tony sometimes wondered whether Nimoy preferred the knowledge that Tony lived in fear to actually enacting any twisted plot of vengeance. Or perhaps Tony simply didn't matter.
He wasn't sure he could do this anymore.
He was vaguely aware of Gibbs's worried looks he keeps sending towards him, but he was too tired to look at Gibbs and reassure Gibbs that he was fine. He didn't really want to tell Gibbs.
He turned and walked to his car and made his way towards the Navy Yard and parked his car. He made his way up to the bullpen walked to his desk and sat down. He said good morning to his teammates when they said good morning to him. He turned to his computer and turned it on.
Gibbs watched his senior field agent. He didn't seem like himself today.
"DiNozzo, with me." Gibbs said as he got up and walked towards the elevator. Tony got up and followed.
"You okay?" He asked as he said when he turned to Tony after he pushed the button to stop the elevator.
"Its nothing to worry about, Gibbs!"Tony shakes his head."Just family stuff!"
"Its about Katrina?"
"Jason?"Gibbs voice filled in worry. He really can't help it because come on, this child was one of a kind.
He was Tony's son. It had become a regular thing for Gibbs to just go to school and pick Jason up. Between work and those tedious long lasting meetings, Tony or Katrina were constantly late with picking Jason up. And were refuse to have thejr child waiting an extra hour at school or being bored out of his mind in office for them. They were skeptical of it at first after Gibbs suggest to pick him up but after Katrina and Tony had actually talking with Gibbs after a meeting , they know their son was in good hands. Plus, Tony, despite his constant refusing of it, he looks up to Tony and that's all the reassurance that Katrina needs.
"Dear god no. Jason is in Tokyo with Maximillion Pegasus."Tony says firmly shoving aside her nervedark
"The billionaire?"
"He is the honorable Amy's godfather and friend of mother!"
Gibbs was silent for a while, trying to process everything.
"Are you ok?"
The man looks closely at the young man in front of him and when saw it.
There it was.
Fear
In Tony's eyes.
Ηe could see it now, in the clear blue. Want and need, loneliness. Hope. For a shot.
Gibbs could see it.
Tony said nothing, a dangerous thing Gibbs has learnt over the years. It meant Tony was planning something, something that caused Gibbs to move backwards with each step Tony took forwards. Gibbs feet worked on their own accord, moving him till a wall stopped his movements.
"You hide something"
Tony's eyes hardened"What do you mean?''
Gibbs rose an eyebrow looking at him. Tont had dark circles under his eyes and his gaze was a little anxious like he hadn't gotten sleep for a week.
"Tony, how long has it been since you slept?"
"I don't remember," Tony mumbled
"Probably a couple days," Gibbs said.
"Maybe. It's not affecting my work."
"It's affecting your attitude."
"Well it's not like I have much to be particularly joyful about"
Gibbs didn't reply, but his glare intensified.
"Its about your mother?"
Tony looked like he'd rather gargle with razorblades than have this conversation.
The shrill sound of a cellphone ringing cut through the charged silence.
"Gibbs," he answered on the third ring. He listened for a moment then responded, "on my way
"McGee, sketch, Vernon, interview's, DiNozzo, bag and tag" Gibbs ordered the team as they got out the car and walked over towards the body.
'Yes boss' came their reply.
McGee pulled out his fingerprint scanner and scanned the victims fingerprint.
"Boss" McGee called "The victims name is Petty Office Owen Miller. 44, single, stationed in Norfolk" he explained to Gibbs, who had walked up him so he was standing next to him.
"Gibbs, the witness says he was walking his dog when he found the body" Vernon said walking towards Gibbs and McGee. "When he saw it, he immediately called the cops".
Gibbs nodded.
The sound of a van pulling up pulled Gibbs from writing his notes. He looked up to see Ducky and Palmer getting out the van, arguing about the directions, as per usual.
After getting the equipment, Ducky and Palmer walked over to the body "I'm terribly sorry Jethro, Mr Palmer got us lost again".
Palmer was about to argue, but the look Gibbs was giving him made him keep his mouth shut.
"Cause of death Duck?" Gibbs asked.
Ducky nealt down and looked at the man in front of him "Cause of death was a gun shot wound to the chest. He probably died from blood loss".
"Time?" Gibbs asked, making some notes.
"I would say about 11 hours ago" Ducky replied, putting the thermometer back in his bag.
Gibbs nodded and took note of it in his pad.
Ducky opened the victim's jacket to reveal a piece of paper, folded in half "Jethro. I think you might want to see this".
Gibbs looked up from his pad and saw what Ducky had meant.
Ducky picked up the paper and carfully handed it to Gibbs.
Gibbs opened the piece paper and read it out loud.
'His death is your fault, Anthony. You shouldn't have done, what you did to me. Now you will pay'
After Gibbs finished, he looked up at Ducky. "A revenge killing?" Ducky said "Payback?".
"Possibly" Gibbs paused and looked back down at the piece of paper "The question is, who is Anthony? And what did he do to piss off someone this much?".
Mindwhile Tony had frozen as his eyes found the dead man and she stumbled backward as if she had been physical pushed.
"Wolf find something?"
Tony just ignored Gibbs ,only to continue his observation of the body that lay at his feet.
He managed to move backward in what somewhat resembled a backwards crab walk before he bumped unceremoniously into Gibbs' legs.
Tony dropped on all fours before the dead body and put his right hand on the two cheek of the dead man, turning his face toward his own.
The movement was certain, but cautious. Tony body tense with the audience he knew he had.
It was the simple things. The little instances in life where the shift of what was and what will be come into precise focus.
The moment right before everything was about to change that can be felt with uneasy intensity.
"Please God , no!" Tony whispered to himself, his eyes widening. Tonh sucked in a breath and bit his lip. It couldn't be. Not now.
"Are you ok?"
"Not" Tony began in a hushed tone, his warm breath hitting Gibb' face and neck."I have to go!"
"Where the fuck are you going Wolf?" Gibbs asked bitingly as McGee said indignantly, "Boss!"
In answer, the door to the house swings closed leaving behind some very confused agents and a very angry Gibbs.
Walking away from them the only thing that Tony was able to think about it was the body of Owen Miller.
Tony met him at the interrogation room, Tony remembered him sitting in a chair with a cigarette on his mouth and a big scar on his left cheek. He wasn't a people person ,he was more the type shoot first and asked questions later. Miller was the most ruthless in the team and the most loyal ,always follow orders without questions.
Something was wrong, he was a madman but he would never hurt a member of his team. Right?
"Even that man was a snitch!"Tony thought.
Tony snorts softly and shakes his head impatiently, instinctively remembering to look both ways before traversing a poorly lit street half-way between his houae's manor building and the park that's hia destination. Tony doesn't want to think about Him now...he doesn't want to think about anything...he just wants to run.
Purposefully clearing his mind, he goes through the motions of simply placing one foot in front of the other. A lot of people do their best thinking while running...or so they claim...but Tony thinks that's nothing but a huge pile of horseshit. Tony walks toward the condo but suddenly, he stops, "There's not many people that can sneak up on me."
Katrina was reading a twenty page status report, when she felt as though she couldn't take it anymore. She had been reading for hours or she thought
The truth was she tried to focus on her work, but she ended up just staring at the paper.
Her mind flushed out back to Tony confession.
FLASHBACK
"She was my first kil!"
"Oh" was all Katrina could reply, her mind had caught up with everyone else's as the meaning of his words sunk in.
"Tony, you don't have to-" Kattina tried to offer her a way out.
"It was the first time I killed someone. I didn't mean to but its happened. My main target was him but I wanted to hit his at his shoulder to stop him for running but his wife got in the way and..."Tony trailed off, lost in the memory.
Tony closed her eyes and flashbacks taunted his mind. All he could remember is that there was a lot blood and screaming and pain, the dead body of the nurse lay in the floor.
He jumped slightly as Katrina placed a comforting hand on hus shoulder, and he smiled gratefully at him.
"They said it comes with this job!"Tony said, glancing at Katrina."I killed someone who was selling drugs and kill people but why i felt so guilty?"
"Because you have feelings!"She murmured softly" It's okay to lose it once and awhile. It remind us that we're human."
"Uncle Spence never lose it
"You dont know that!"Katrina confirms so damn gently. "Tony, I'm sorry."
Tony shrugs her off and stands, his head is racing too fast, too many thoughts, it's all overwhelming, and he drops into a crouch and holds his head between his hands, squeezing them until he feels like he might explode.
He doesn't want to hear it. He doesn't want her meaningless apologies or her empty reassurances. He doesn't want her near him. He doesn't want this.
"I'm fine," he manages to gasp out. "I'm fine, I'm just processing is all."
"Did you talked to someone about this?," Katrina continues after walking toward him
"And say what?" he presses, stepping forward and closing the space between them. "I killed someone in cold blood?"
Katrina doesn't know what to say. Tony's eyes are intense as he steps ever closer, and it's like with each step he sucks the air out of the space between them.
It's the biggest lie he's ever told, but Katrina only hovers behind him before a moment more before she sighs. It's a deep sigh, full of regret. Tony thinks it's wrong for her to be regretful for him.
"It wasn't a cold blood killing"Katrina was looking upwards, twisting her head around and back, eyes scanning the ceiling.'You tried to defense yourself, you said that Verone shot first"
"Yeah," Tony murmurs when Katrina is settled and leans back against the backrest. "Yeah."
"Tell me what's wrong," Katrina asked quietly, taking his hand in hers.
"I fell guilty for killing this woman but for Woodford."
There it was. Katrina sighed, holding on tight to her husband.
"Sometimes your moral compass is terrified me!"
END FLASH BACK
"What are your next moves?" Amy asks Katrina suddenly, as she waa walking into the office st afternoon just after finishing a lengthy trial with Mike.
Kattina is genuinely confused, at first. "Next moves...?" She prompts, and Amy glances over at her.
"With the man who us after us?" She asks. "The drug Lord" Amy voice is easy, almost studiedly nonchalant, and Katrina can't help the warning bells that start to go off in her head.
"What did you do?"Katrina demanded, trying not to sound aggressive.
"Really?" Amy asked, and she didn't sound angry or confrontational, just confused. Well, her tone was maybe a little harsher than usual, but she didn't seem to be trying to start a fight or anything." I asked around for information."
"Ι didn't found something." Amy replied honestly, meeting Katrina'" eyes. "I swear, if you actually start growling I will flick you on the nose like a naughty puppy!''
Katrina' eyebrows rose"You find nothing?."
Amy shrugged one shoulder. "It happens," she said with an air of indifference.
"Not to you, Amy,"Katrina countered."Your last name can open doors like White House or even Hell's"
What you want me to say?"
"That people are afraid to talk about Verone because this bastard can kill hus ownother without blinking an eye or because they are afraid that he will come after them."Amy confessed, gripping the edges of the dess, her gaze to the floor"That is you want to hear?"
Katrina frowned, turning to face her and considered her sister in law answer thoroughly. "No," She naturally replied.
They both stilled for a moment, breathing heavily and startled by their suddenly intimate proximity. Unable to help hrrself when faced with the all too familiar sensation of restraining Katrina, Amy leaned in and before could say something ,Katrina spoke."We are going to talk later about it bur now I have to finish with a testimony or Bastiana will have my head!"
Amy hook her head, "See you later, sis!"
Watching her sister in law walking away , worry and fear was rushing through Katrina veins and Tony's words echoed in her head."I don't know what to do with it!''
Tony walked down the basement steps at Gibbs' house, following the sound of sandpaper on wood. He needed to have a talk with the older man and he knew his best bet was outside of an official meeting. Even attempting this conversation at NCIS would be counter productive. Not that Tony was confident in a positive outcome regardless but he had to do it, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't.
Gibbs didn't look up from his sanding of the boat as he grunted, "Wolf," as Tony reached the basement floor.
"Gibbs."
Tony knew better than to wait for further acknowledgment from his boss. He also knew he had Gibbs' attention, even if it seemed otherwise.
"I want to apologize for my behavior today. It was very unprofessional and out of my character!"
Gibbs made no verbal acknowledgment but the sanding sped up in tempo.
"I want to keep a straight face in front of the team and not giving up much information about my life but..."
Gibbs kept sanding but spoke,"What is going on, Tony?"
Gibbs spun around."What?"
"Tony" Gibbs said gruffly, seing the bruise under her left eye and her split lip.
"Who did this to you?"Gibbs his concern burning in his eyes like twin gas flames., scanning her face.
Tony froze, an expression of . . . shame? . . . crossing his face. He turned towards the windows and shut Gibbs out.
Gibbs He stood there, waiting. If he waited long enough, Tony would talk. And he did. He started off explaining which movie he felt like he was in. Gibbs had never seen it, so he didn't really pay attention. Tony talking about movies was like Ducky talking about the Sudan, it went in one ear and out the other. What Gibbs did pay attention to was the emotional subtext of Tony's blather. He was nervous, embarrassed and . . . and Gibbs still got an inexplicable impression of shame from him. After awhile, Tony couldn't help it, he got down to brass tacks.
"Two month's before we meet, I had this case!"he said finally."The local drug Lord was selling a new kind of drug, it was been a week until we found our first body."
Tony squirmed again and Gibbs let him readjust to lean against the couch. Gibbs reached for a blanket and wrapped it around his friend's shoulders.
"Get it out Tony."
"Gibbs, it . . ." Tony closed his eyes. "It was a fucking child!. She was laying down behind a dumpster like she was nothing. She was only 15 years old."
"We had information that Ace will have a big job at the night of April 24 and we had the perfect opportunity to catch him"
Gibbs clenched his jaw and turned back to the boat."What happen?"
Tony huffed a bitter laugh."Everything went to hell"
"It turned out he had someone in the station that gave him all the information that involved him and his network. They came prepared for a war but eery war has two losers. We lost son good men and police officer but Bele was a tragic loss"
Gibbs barely kept his tone under control. "What is this guy's name?" he demanded.
Tony blinked at him, and his expression underwent another lightening change. Suddenly he was all business.
"Ace Nimoy and he caught up with me yesterday."
Gibb's breath caught sharp and harsh in his chest. His hands tightened imperceptibly on Tony's hand and it took everything in him not to pull him to him. Ninoy. Rabid bastard with a broken mind, broken even more so by his wife's death. And he had found Tony.
Tony's eyes were open now and meeting his, steady and calm as she continued his story, the exact opposite of Gibbs' churning gut. "He was looking for me. He found me at a bar wanting to talk to me about hs wife and the shit that happened in Baltimore. We had a big fight behind the bar and he hit me hard, He threatened me that he will kill my son and Katrina. He wants revenge! "
Gibbs flinched and Tony gave him a weak, trembling smile. "I had this perfect idea to mock him. I told him that I was the one who killed his wife... And then... then I told him to shoot me."
The knot in Gibbs' chest that had formed when they found the broken wagon seized, twisting so tightly that for a moment he couldn't breathe. Of course, Tony had. Of course, he had told the man to shoot his. Antony Wolf played so fast and loose with his own life, and now with the pain of what he had had to do to someone .
Gibbs silently cursed himself
"Did he?" The question was foolish, he knew, but he had to know. Tony nodded ever so slightly and Gibbs felt like he was going to puke, his stomach dropped so fast.
"His gun was empty."
"Jesus Christ, Tony..."
Unable to hold back any longer, Gibbs he hugged his boy hard. Pulling him tightly against his chest.
Tony went willingly, burying his face in chest of Gibbs as Gibbs pressed his cheek to Tony's hair, trying desperately to calm own his racing heart. Ace had had a gun pressed to Tony's head, pressed so hard that it left a perfect bruise of the barrel. Ace knew that Tony had killed his wife. Ace had pulled the trigger.
Ace had pulled the trigger.
You're not going back out there." The words were out before he could stop them, and what he had meant as an order came out desperate and pleading.
" I have to Gibbs"There was no anger in Tony voice that Gibbs dare give him orders, only a quiet determination. They both knew that he did, that he had to keep looking after his family, no matter what other threats were looming, and they both knew that Gibbs knew that as well.
"You're not going alone." This time Gibbs' voice was stronger. There was no way in hell that he was going to let his son set one foot outside of the NCIS building along, not until Ace Nimoy's head was safely on a spike. "I'm coming with you, and that's not up for debate."
Tony pulled back, though Gibbs was loathed to let Tony go, his chest still screaming and twisting with the fact that he had almost lost hid son.
"Who else know?." Gibbs whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"Katrina, Amy and Travis!"
"Not your mother!"Gibbs swallowed, growing exasperated.
Tony nodded softly"My mother is..."he whispered back."My mother had been for the last two weeks in a bad mood and now she us back to be happy and relax. I don't know how and why but i don't want to destroy her peace!"
"Two weeks ago?" says a voice in his head. " When you had this big fight about past and stuff?"
"Yes and? "Reply Gibbs wanting to get rip off this voice.
"She was mad , you hurt her!" The voice mock him." You really live up the second B"
The voice asks him and the man shrugged, a voice which sound a lot like Bastiana He didn't have a response.
For one wild moment, the man wondered why Bastiana had referred to him as that. Then he realized Bastiana hadn't called his name. It was the Tony. The young man was standing in front of him.
"Yes, Wolf?" he asked, after clearing his throat.
"That is the second time I called your name, boss," Tony said.
"Sorry, Tony," Gibbs said, "I... was distracted."
"It must have been quite the distraction for you to lose focus enough for that to happen."
The older man hoped he wasn't blushing. His cheeks felt a little hot. Yes, it was certainly quite the distraction, his strange vision
"I have something"Travis announcement throwing the file onto the table and sitting against the edge of it.
Katrina looks at them and frowns, "What's this?"
Katrina was at her home with Amy and Travis trying to find information about Verone. Having all the house for themselves without Jason being in, finding the opportunity to turn the condo into the perfect room war.
"How did you find this?"Amy asks walking in the living room with a bottle of whiskey and three glasses.
Travis grin was big and bright,"I know a guy"
"Is this guy real?"
Amy put the things over the table. Katrina passed a glass of whiskey to Travis as he leaned against the sofa.
He let out a quiet, huffed laugh
"Never mind"Amy said quietly. She gave Travis' hand a gentle squeeze before walks toward her sister in law who handed the papers in her hands to her.
"What we have here"Says Amy opening the file and threw a pillow it at Travis." Read it for us"
"Soo demanding!"Travis sighed.
"You like it!"Amy He replied and Katrina giggled.
Travis gave her a half amused half insulted look and starts to read."Ace Nimoy born and rose in California."Travis started, moving forward and holding out a photograph."His parents got divorced and in the age of 14 moved to Baltimore. Between 16 and 23 was in and out of jail for theft, sale of drugs and carrying weapons without a license. "
"What a nice start to begin your career as a drug Lord"Amy stated, moving out of the way of the island's.
"Drug Lord?"Katrina asked, though it was more of a statement than a question."Like Carter Verone?"
"Ace Nimoy the Easter Bunny compared to Carter Verone."Travis confirmed."At the age of 24 became an official member of the neighborhood 's gang and married to Analise Bele two years later."
"The nurse!" Katrina stated.
Amy nodded.
Travis suddenly looks up, panicked. He seems to have been paying more attention to the file than Katrina's words. "What? Trav-"
"She was pregnant!"Travis replid softly
Katrina covered her mouth with her hand "Oh my God," she said and sat on the islands stool, Travis sat on the one next to her.
Amy looked horrified."What?!"
" Don't mention nothing it this to Tony, please"
Katrina had never been so desperate to please somebody else, but dammit, she didn't want to lose Tony.
"Of course Kat," Travis replied, shaking his head slightly.
"Our next move?"
Travis was not too sure that this wouldn't end in pain and misery for someone. Still as it had already been pointed out Katrina and Amy were the masters of psychological torture.
All the man could do was sit back and watch the craziness. It would be entertaining if nothing else.
Katrina could tell that Amy was planning something and given the mischievous glint in those dark eyes it was going to be good. "What are you planning and can I help you?"
She chuckled guessing that Amy had already been counselled to behave. "Well the last time you had a grin that big Alan Woodford ended up six feet under."
Amy would deny it but it was true, "I did promise Tony that we wouldn't physically harm anyone."
Katrina was quick up on the uptake, "But he didn't ban us from mind games."
"Nope." If anyone else had been around she would have tried for innocent but there was really no point around Katrina. In this situation they really were alike in this respect and one of the reasons people have learnt to leave them.
Their bodies linked together as they tumbled clumsily beneath the sheets, long pale fingers ghosting over each other's taut sweating skin, both hearts beating in harmony like a war drum, teasing and playing each other like instruments until, finally, sweet release and she gifted him with a moan so much more pleasurable than that of a text tone, but not before taking them with as much ease and pride from him. She'd brought her riding crop for him, and it never took her long to find the cuffs in the draw that stashed them in after last time. Of course he'd put up a fight before he let her chain him to the bed and take over, sucking and biting softly on her neck and abdomen, feeling her gasp and writhe with pleasure beneath him, ragged breaths against his flesh. It took her a while to get him in position, to assert her dominance and make him beg for her mercy, once, twice, more, each time more desperate until she gave it him. When she unlocked him he got revenge, making her moan his name and beg for more.
Bastiana's eyes shot open, sitting on the bed, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Her head throbbed so appallingly it was as though someone was hammering a nail into her skull inch by inch. A low whimper escaped her lips. She wanted to clutch her pounding head, but her arms felt too stiff and heavy. Such pain she had not experienced in recent memory. Though... there was something there, just on the brink of her mind, the pain concealing it. A low menacing voice that she couldn't quite place just yet. Oh, how her head ached! Another whine slipped from her throat. She mustered up all the fortitude she could and forced her eyes open a crack. She caught a flash of green before her eyes closed again. Green. A memory of green eyes floated to the top of her mind. Thin lips, a cool touch. A name.
Hours passed, knowing sleep wasn't going to come anytime soon, Bastiana slid out of bed and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms. She then crept out of the bedroom and headed downstairs, where she poured herself a glass of whisky and settled down in front of the fire in the living room.
She was fan of alcohol, she has never considered himself a drunk ,alcoholic, maybe, but not a drunk. Sure, she drinks more than the average Joe, but that comes with the stress of the job. Her siblings disapproves of her unhealthy habits, she can tell, but Bastiana can't bring herself to care. There are some days to which only a glass of whiskey (or two or three or four, who's keeping count?) will satisfy her. understands and does them the same thing, though probably to a lesser extent. She drinks so habitually that she's shocked her liver isn't mush at this point.
Bastiana threw a file down with a huff. She shouldn't work on a case in this state, she couldn't concentrate. She had to leave, to go take a walk. It being 2am and freezing cold be damned.
The silence of the condo was disrupted by the tones of hre cellphone. She dusted off the a machallan 12 as ahe stood up and reached into her pockets finding the offending object.
She sighed when she saw who was calling and sat down of bottle, stalling.
"Hey Leroy." She shouldn't have answered. Calls after midnight were never a good sign, but she promised that she would never be unreasonable
The other end was silent for so long that he almost hung up, thinking maybe Gibbs had just accidently called her. Just as she went to end the call, she heard a sharp intake of breath and a deep voice.
"I miss you!"
Bastiana didn't know what to do with that confession, her heart started pounding, and her mind flew back to the time when they were together, sharing their lives and coffee. Damn, she missed it too. Gibbs was one of the best things that happened to her in her life.
"I miss you so much too Roy." Bastiana smiled as she heard the shaky laughing at the pet name.
"And who is in the fault?"Gibbs voice was so sweet.
"I just got stuck among the paperwork!"Bastiana lies throughout her teeth.
The truth was that Bastiana had been avoid to be in the same room with Gibbs. She had to put her feelings and thoughts in line before ahe comfort him but for how much she can avoid him before she lose him.
"We need to fix this. Monday. My house, my cook, at 8"
Bastiana took a deep breath in and was about to reply with, 'that's what she wanted too', when Hollis Mann's tired voice came through the phone, clear as a bell.
"Who are you talking to this late, Jethro? Do we have to be at work?" Hollis's soft tones, accent thickened from sleep, brought her back to the present. She couldn't do this. She couldn't break up their relationship, and she couldn't do this to Leroy.
Because it was love.
Not that she could ever say a word about it. Not before, and certainly not now.
Something had set Bastiana off.
Jessica could see it as soon as the woman entered the room. It was in the predatory grace if her gait, in the arctic tone of her voice, and the simmering blood lust in her eyes. The most telling sign, however was the dangerous snarl curling her lips as her paperwork's spread out in front of her.
Travis and the others could see it too, having become nearly as attuned to the blond as Mike himself was over the years. They'd only see her in a rage twice but knew the signs well enough to recognize them and stay the hell away. But not Mike.
"Bastiana, call down your shelf and let people to work!"
Bastiana stares in disbelief because honestly Mike -
"Speak to me with that tone again"
She let a hint of danger seep into his words, a little bit of the 'I'm your big sister and you'll shut up or I'll make you'. Of course, Mike and everyone knew that was usually an empty threat.
When she got back to her office, Jessica was there waiting for her.
Bastiana started, immediately holding her hands up as a white flag. "Not now Jessica!"
"Where are you going?" Jessica asks, scrambling to her feet without much thought.
"For a fucking walk" Basriana grits and walks out, heading to the exit door.
Soon, the the firm isn't anything but a small dot in the rearview mirror, and still, Jessica keeps quiet. Bastianq has her foot planted firmly down. Her jaw is clenched, and she's white-knuckling the phone as if she can strangle the inanimate object.
Jessica doesn't say anything. She never does, not when Bastiana is like this.She knows better than to do that. It might take a bit, but Jessica knows that Bastiana will eventually break and start ranting until she lets Jessica give her some advice that will help her cool down.
And, Jessica isn't wrong. She can see the exact moment that Bastiana is going to break. Her hands loosen and a deep breath pushes from her body. She hunkers down a little, a pout formed between her eyebrows. Jesaica goes still and starts counting down.
3...
2...
1...
"
"I just don't understand. He's so...asshole''She bursts out, getting riled up all over again.
''How is the target of your anger''Jessica sighs, shrugging.
''Gibbs!''Bastiana grumbles.
''Since when?''
''Since the phone call!''
''For the love of god Bastiana. You have been avoiding him talking case after case''Jessica lectures, shooting Bastiana a look.
"I know! That's what I keep telling him that I am sorry, but he keeps bringing it up as a reason to..." Bastiana abruptly trails off, going silent as her throat bobs.
" To have dinner but Hollis Mann was there, " Bastiana grits out.
Jessica has the distinct impression that her friend doesn't like Hollis Mann for a whole lot more than she lets on, and for more reasons than just because he works close with Gibbs.
''Nothing''Bastiana mutters,. "They were talking while I was waiting for him on the line"
"Did he stop, at least?"Jessicq asks, grimacing as Bastiana hit a wall.
"No. No, he fucking didn't. That asshole continue to talk. Like, literally right after! With me still in the line! " Bastiana shouts, absolutely fuming.
Okay, this is leaning more towards a rant on friends being unfaithful. It definitely holds that air, and Jessica knows he has to be cautious. Because, if Medea slips up and lets some real feelings show, not the watered down shit she actually lets out, they'll both be in a world of awkwardness that they aren't ready for.
Bastiana sighs. "And I don't know is the dinner still stand".
"You could had call him back." Jessicq says softly, wincing the moment the words fall out.
"Oh, I bet but she may be busy . I'm sure Mr. Smarmy Lieutenant Bitchy is absolutely charming . Smooth talking Gibbs right on into her arms, like some fucking suave jerk laying out a trap for the game."
"No, Bastiana," Jessica murmurs, chancing a look at her friend. "I mean, have you truly asked him to have a dinner with you as a partner?"
Jessica isn't going to say it, isn't going to say that she wants to know if Bastiana has asked Gibbs to stay with her, isn't going to say that Jessica asking if Bastiana made it clear that she wants Gibbs to stay for her.
She isn't going to say it, but she doesn't have to.
"I don't like him right now"
"Enough!" Jessica yelled. Bastiana was taken aback, she wasn't sure Jessicq reaction was exactly warranted."This isn't about your guilt or hate B! This is about you being selfish. You want to have all his attention!"
"That's not..." Bastiana began. "I mean yeah, but that's not why-"
"What's not it B?" Jessica was still looking furious. She must have seen the confusion on Bastiana's face, because he calmed down a little. "B, it's okay."
She had no idea what Jessica was talking about now. What was okay? Why was Jessica looking at her like a hurt puppy?
"I know... I know how you feel about him," Jessica said and tried to reach out to Bastiana. Bastiana pulled away instinctively, out of defensiveness because she didn't know what she was talking about and that's not something that happened often.
"You want him with you because you want his attention," Jessica continued to explain. "You will miss him... because you're in love with him.
Strolling into MTAC, Gibbs saw Vance standing there already deep in conversation with another man. Never one to care about interrupting, he approached the two men.
"Agent Gibbs, this is Bruce Wayne
"Pleasure to meet you Agent Gibbs and please call me Bruce. I've heard a great deal about you." Bruce Wayne smiled.
Gibbs snickered. "Yeah I'm sure." He sized up the man a moment. He was dressed in a dark, charcoal gray suit with a matching vest and a midnight black dress shirt underneath. He had no tie on, with the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone, allowing a tantalizing view if his collarbones, power seemed to be radiating off of him in waves.
"I want to invest i to NCIS. I have to learn a few thing or two." Bruce grinned
Gibbs nodded.
"I want you to make your team available to mister Wayne today." Vance said as Bruce turned, talking to the agent working at the MTAC desk.
Another nod.
"Talmen's team will be handling any cases that come in today."
"Sure." Gibbs hated crap like this. He'd need a hell of a lot of coffee to get through today. The door to MTAC opened and without even looking he knew Tony had walked in.
"Morning." Tony nodded at Vance, then smiled handing Gibbs a cup of coffee. "Figured you might need this."
"Thanks." Gibbs smirked.
Marcus." Vance said, pulling the man from his conversation. Marcus turned around and his eyes lit up. "This is-"
"Anthony Wolf." Bruce grinned.
Tony's mouth dropped open slightly. "Wayne what are you-"
"Here for business!"
"Wow. I um, didn't know." There was a nervousness in Tony's voice.
Gibbs' eyes narrowed as he took in what was happening around him. They knew each other but how?
You two know each other?" Vance asked, catching the uneasiness in Gibbs' eyes. He knew Gibbs would never ask the question.
"Yes." Mister Wayne smiled, still staring at Tony. "Our path has crossed."
Tony swallowed the lump in his throat. "OSU, a long time ago."
Just before someone of the four men can say something, a voice almost whisper said.
"Bruce..."